Cyclone Murasu Brings Flooding and Strong Waves to Chennai
Chennai woke up to heavy rain on Monday, causing disruption across several parts of the city. Streets were waterlogged and civic teams were on alert as the severe cyclonic storm Murasu, which had developed over the Bay of Bengal, headed towards the Andhra Pradesh coast.
The worst-hit areas were in the north. Between Sunday morning and 6 am on Monday, Perrys recorded 149.2 mm of rainfall. New Manali Town received 141.6 mm and Manali got 136.2 mm, according to the Greater Chennai Corporation's Integrated Command and Control Centre.
The corporation's report noted very heavy rain at five monitoring stations and heavy rain at 28 other places. Madhavaram, Puzhal, Manali, Ennore, Basin Bridge and parts of Tondiarpet were among the locations listed. Moderate rain was logged at 25 places, including Koratturu, Ayapakkam, Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Pallikaranai and Sholinganallur.
Rainfall was also reported in southern and western areas, though the northern part of the city bore the brunt.
Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G.S. Sameeran surveyed waterlogging on Besant Road in Triplicane and assessed the steps taken by the civic body. He also went to the Integrated Command and Control Centre at Ripon Building to review relief and monitoring work.
Officials and field staff of the corporation are working to drain water from flooded roads and to maintain essential services in the affected areas. The control centre has been tracking the situation continuously, and municipal workers are addressing rain-related issues throughout the city.
The storm's intensification early on Monday also brought rough seas. High and powerful waves were seen on Chennai's beaches, adding to the difficult weather in coastal localities.
The India Meteorological Department said in its 5 am bulletin that Murasu has turned into a severe cyclonic storm. At 2:30 am, the centre of the system was roughly 260 km east-northeast of Chennai and about 290 km southeast of Nellore.
The department has indicated that the storm may cross the Andhra Pradesh coast near Ongole, between Nellore and Narsapur, during the period from late on November 2 to the morning of November 3.